Derry City manager Declan Devine is confident the Candy Stripes can put their poor league form to one side and overcome Sligo Rovers in this afternoon’s FAI Cup quarter-final clash.
Derry City boss Declan Devine determined to keep hold of the FAI Cup.
Cup holders Derry, who have lost seven of their last nine league games, will go into the game as underdogs having lost all three meetings between the sides so far this season.
Forward Patrick McEleney is “major doubt” for the tie which must City win as the cup is their only chance of gaining silverware this season as a result of their poor league form.
Their displays in the cup have not been very convincing either – they needed a replay to get past Leinster League minnows Bluebell United in the last round.
However, Devine pointed out today’s game was a North West derby and the team that defends the best would go through to the semi-finals.
Rovers, the defending Premiership League champions and four-times up winners, are considered to be Derry’s “bogey team.” It is over six years since they last lost to City – a 4-1 loss in July 2007 – and they have triumphed in five of their last six meetings scoring 16 goals and conceded only three.
Rovers boss, Ian Barraclough, said it was his ambition to lead a team out at the Aviva Stadium.
He said: “It’s a massive game. I want the supporters to look forward to the day in Dublin where they have been used to the last few years and more often that not in the last few years having success there as well. I know the interest it generates.”
He added: “The FAI Cup is a special competition. You want to go win it.”
Today’s game kicks off at 5.00pm and will be broadcast live on Drive 105 and BBC Radio Foyle.
Baraclough feels it will not be a factor once the game begins but it should be used as an example to his players that they can overcome the Candystripes.
He stated: “It is great to have an Indian sign over a club. It is obviously in their mentality that they have not beaten us for a long while. It doesn’t county for anything when the whistle starts but we know we have it in our armoury to go and beat a Derry side.
“They will come here refreshed having not played last weekend and possibly their focus is solely on the cup because their league form has dropped a little bit. They will have had a fortnight of being able to really focus on this competition and we have to work really, really hard to make sure we are in the draw in the semi-finals.”
Rovers will be without four players for the tie. Kieran Djilali is suspended, David McMillan is cup-tied while Evan McMillan and Ross Gaynor (knee injuries) ar
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